California Condors

California condors are making a comeback. They're awesome birds. Check out these fun facts about them!

Cleaner-uppers: Condors are vultures. Like all vultures, they feed on dead animals. That may sound yucky, but imagine how much messier the planet would be without vultures and other clean-up crews.

Neat and tidy: Because of their diet, condors are sometimes called "dirty." But they're actually very clean. They clean their beaks and necks after eating. How? By rubbing them on rocks, branches, or grass. They also spend lots of time bathing, and preening and drying their feathers.

How they communicate: California condors have no vocal chords. They communicate with grunts and hisses.

Groupies: California condors often hang out together while feeding and roosting.

Soaring, Seeing: When searching for food, California condors soar high overhead on wind currents. From up above, they look for food with their super-sharp eyesight.

Where to see them: Condors are often found around mountains, hillsides, and canyons. That's because these places have strong air currents—just made for soaring and hunting.